China driving tour for the disabled
The morning of Thursday, August 21 saw a fleet of 45 vehicles leave Shatin Race Course at the start of the Mainland driving trip organised by the Police Motoring Club (PMC) as part of the healthy lifestyle campaign and charity activity. It was a special event because, this time, the Club was working with the Hong Kong Red Cross to turn the usual 'China Drive' event into a caring charity cause.
There were a total of 183 people taking part including members of the PMC, Force volunteers, Hong Kong Red Cross staff and volunteers (five of whom were from New Territories North Emergency Unit), and 14 physically-handicapped students from the Princess Alexandra Residential School and the John F Kennedy Centre, plus 22 mentally-handicapped residents of the Shun Lee Hostel.
New Territories South Regional Commander Mrs Bonnie Smith, and Consultant Forensic Pathologist In-Charge Dr Mong Hoi-keung, were the Honourable Captains of the Drive, which had been organised in response to the current Force policy promoting healthy lifestyle programmes and to encourage participation by volunteers.
There was a Grand Starting Ceremony led by Mrs Smith, Dr Mong, and the Honourable Convoy Captains - Director of the Hong Kong Red Cross Mrs Patricia Ling; Sha Tin District Commander Mr John Bicknell; Patron of the PMC Mrs Shirley Wan, and sponsors of the event, representatives from the Hong Kong Japanese Club and the Korean Ladies Volunteers Group.
An Emotionally Inspiring Affair
The convoy, larger than the fleets of three Police Tactical Unit Companies, and led by PMC Chairman, Superintendent Mr Chan Chun-hing, arrived in Shenzhen through the Lok Ma Chau Border Crossing Point.
After lunch, the convoy headed northwards on the Guangshen Super-Highway passing through Dongguan and over the Kuman Bridge to Zhongshan Studio City. The weather was very unstable to begin with but had cleared just before the arrival at their penultimate first-day destination. The sight of Police officers walking hand-in-hand with their respective clients, either supporting them or pushing their wheelchairs, was an emotionally inspiring affair. After enjoying two exciting shows inside the City, the convoy continued its journey to the New Yuan Min Garden in Zhuhai, where they all had dinner followed by a most enjoyable grand Qing Dynasty Show. The Convoy capped its first day by checking into a hotel in Zhuhai.
Fun Games in Zhuhai
The next morning the convoy drove some 50km to the Chuanlin Recreational Centre where the volunteers again helped their respective clients to enjoy the manifold and diversified games offered including war game vehicles, cable cars, archery and shooting, etc.
The convoy then headed southward to Panyu where they all went to the Circus Theatre located within the Chime Long Hotel precincts. They enjoyed a very grand and spectacular show.
On the third day, the convoy went westwards to Baomo Garden in Panyu's Shawan Village. This is a famous gardening and sculpture gallery. After lunch, the convoy returned to the hotel where marshals became busily engaged in decorating the venue for a recreational function to be held for the clients that evening. Volunteers, meanwhile, accompanied their clients on a tour of Panyu's Wild Animal Zoo.
Back at the hotel, they were all joined for the evening event by honourable guests, Deputy Commissioner (Management) Mr Fung Siu-yuen, and Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau Deputy Head Mr Zheng Shaodong, and the two Hong Kong Red Cross luminaries, Dr Albert Li and Mr Chan Kai-ming.
On the fourth and final day of the drive, the Convoy returned to Shenzhen, visiting Vitasoy's Guangmin Farm where clients were offered a free taste of fresh milk and allowed to feed the cows. The convoy returned to Hong Kong in time to greet typhoon signal No 3.
Round-the-clock Care
After learning that all the clients had been returned safely to home, PMC Chairman Mr Chan Chun-hing said that it had been a most worthwhile event despite the many difficulties it had entailed. He was referring to the fact that the volunteers were expected to provide round-the-clock care to their vulnerable clients, including the time they were in their hotel rooms and that the marshals had to provide security on the floors they occupied. However, he believed that the mission had raised the awareness of Force colleagues - and hopefully others - to the need for providing help and care to the underprivileged. "On our part, members of the PMC are proud to be able to contribute to this kind of community service in such a way that it will inspire other members of the Hong Kong motoring public to make a similar effort," he said.
Disabled guests are helped into vehicles at the start of a four-day tour on the Mainland